Just started scoping these out....
does Audiosex use? Do the extensions make them much more worthwhile?
And any particular box that has the best capability ?

The Kodi Ti8 was first on the list for consideration..

www.amazon.com/Element-Android-Octa-Stream-Updater/dp/B01N5SQWTI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488440322&sr=8-1&keywords=kodi+ti8


then the Zidoo X9S

www.amazon.com/Android-OpenWRT-1000Mbps-Recoder-Bluetooth/dp/B01L1HWFEE

not sure that I need or want one as yet.. but it looks interesting..

if anyone has any sites that elaborate on what they can do... please post... thanks

 

imho, you're better off taking an old pc and making it your htpc. we cut the cable at our house in 2011. at the time, these boxes didn't exist, so i bought an inexpensive gateway small form factor desktop pc with windows 7 and the now discontinued windows media center (here's a link to this log-ago discontinued pc: )

as you can see, there's nothing particularly powerful about this thing. but to this day, it continues to be our one and only htpc. i also bought a silicon dust homerun dual to convert free over-the-air digital broadcasts which i can record using windows media center. media center downloads the tv schedule automatically, and it's easy to schedule recordings of all our favorite shows. we time-shift everything we watch and easily skip through commercials.

since we have amazon prime, we have a free (sort of) source of all kinds of movies and tv shows to stream.

if you can find a good deal on a used windows 7 premium pc with windows media center, you'll have a much better entertainment device than any of those kodi boxes.

 

Interesting you mention that now.. I happen to have an old tower with the Win 7 media center on it..

Yeah I had wanted to do something like a home brew DVR too .. never wanted nor needed Tivo.. but wanted that capability.
Some years ago had an LG stand alone, but it fritzed out, and I stopped pursuing it further..

@realitybytez there seem to be extensions for these boxes that can actually "hunt down" content on the net for you
for streaming.. thinking in terms of getting news from around the world, and other unavailable programming in the US
also some reports in TF that these units are aggravating UK media companies because these extensions enable people to avoid paying for all kinds of content.. if you get my drift..

 

I have a both the amazon devices firestick and fireTV but "rooted" with custom versions of android on them running kodi builds with all the extras. They work, but I have to agree with @realitybytez , you are better off taking an old pc/laptop and using it. The android devices are constantly buffering and are prone to freezing and lagging. I have an old laptop with hdmi out that I use now and it works great. I use an old wireless xbox controller as a remote control for it, it was made for that actually. Kodi was XBMC after all. But its defenitly worth checking out. I get all my tv shows and movies this way now. And even UFC and Boxing PPV but that takes a little stream hunting to find a quality HD picture. It does take a little learning, it isnt just plug and play. But its great. I love to binge watch my TV shows on there. The whole 7 seasons of breaking bad and then better call saul ect.
Im pretty adept with Kodi now so if you decide to set it up and want some help as to which are the best builds and addons, just ask...

 

somehow I had a feeling you would know about these things @subGENRE
thanks for the input...

Then I do have a spare i5 laptop I could use as well... should be robust enough if an old one
would work. But I suppose your set up does not need Windows media center..yes?

will get back to you if I drop the coin for a Kodi or use my old tower, or laptop....
maybe better as it probably has the hdmi...


now let's see if @Pinkman weighs in

 

Last edited by a moderator: Mar 2, 2017

Ok that's my experince so if something is not clear you can ask.

I bought The HiMedia Q10 Quad 1 year ago for about (200€) and I'm really happy with it. I searched a lot for something high quality that's worth because there too many cheap quality option that still have tons of problem.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HiMedia-Q10...-Media-Player-TV-Set-Box-w-Kodi-/351517118399


-Why not laptop+hdmi? because it's sucks IMO. Maybe you can use it once in a while but not constantly, really.
-Why I bought the TV box? My last Tv didn't support the new X265 codec (the new one does). I wanted something able to stream thing from the web or from my desktop pc. I wanted to build my movies/tv series library. It support usb 3.0 and anykind of HDD or usb stick.

I bought alongside the box a 4 TB 3.5 HDD drive (yes, the box has a slot for 3.5 or 2.5 HDD inside) and an air mouse controller with keyboard (10€) in order to be very quickly one use the box for online streaming and so on.

I'm very very happy about it does a lot of things that I didn't require in the first place like running Netflix (if you don't have a smart tv), web browsing, android apps, support blueray full image and lot of codecs (except 10 bit color and 4k60fps like the newer version).

If you are english there are a couple of free service with really worth it and are better than netflix not only because they are free. I'm talking to Popcorn time tv (you can try it with your desktop) and so on. Kodi is another cool program for IPTV and other cool tv streaming app.
The experience is so easy and smart. it's android base but the all launcher thing is designed for quick use.

If you plan to buy a TV box i'll suggest you to invest some time and money is something wich is not cheap and worth it. Mine it's perfect, no lag, no freezing quality wifi buffering (like my old ps3 and my laptop) tested with Speedtest.

 

Yes if you do get a TV box dont cheap out on it. The Q boxes are good. I have ordered and installed them for customers/clients. And you do get to have a dedicated media remote too. I would recomend them. But the xbox controller works better especially if youre already familiar with it. Varible speed rew and ff on the pressure sensitive triggers. Page up and down with the bumpers and more.

But why not use an old unused latop constantly? I have it set to not turn off when the screen closes and the controller will bring it out of a sleep. Its on the stand under the tv pluged into hdmi2. It already has all the ram it needs and a big HD to save to for PVR. And best of all, it costs nothing. I was using the toptutorials Hyper and Ultra builds for Kodi 16 Jarvis. Now Im favoring the No Limits Magic build of Kodi 17.1 Krypton. It got all the goodies already in there.

If you use something like Echo wizard to set them up its pretty painless.

 

Last edited: Mar 2, 2017

Well, if you have already an old laptop wich support x265 codec you can try it see if it works for you.

For me it wasn't working as setup plus the 4 TB HDD would be another cable around the tv for what?!

I still prefer my box over my laptopHDMI

Himedia box are quality stuff. If you don't wanna spend all those money on the best choice you can still go for the version without HDD slot wich cost about 50-70 € less or go for a cheaper version for about 100€ wich still worth it.

 

Hey man,
I just got this super cheap little computer to do all that, which I have hooked up via HDMI straight to the TV. It's called Pine 64. Another option is the Raspberry PI which is another really popular mini computer. I also got this really cool mini keyboard that fits in the palm of your hand. It's like the size of a regular TV remote. Here are the links where I got the Pine and keyboard:

https://www.pine64.org/?post_type=product

You can spend less than $70 and load netflix, Kodi and anything else you need. I would recommend the Raspberry over the Pine because it's been around longer and all the bugs and stuff are fixed....I have the odd issue with my Pine unit but all around good. It runs Android...so it's like having a big cell phone!

Another positive aspect to having a little mini computer is the fact it uses very low voltage. So you'll save on electricity...if you have shit Prime Ministers and Premiers like I have, who enjoy taxing you to breathe,drive and use any source of energy - this can be a useful little device.

 

Last edited: Mar 3, 2017

Hey SUb!

What add ons would you recommend for Kodi? Right now I've found Exodus to be the best of the bunch. Which one supplies UFC stuff? Also - what is the difference between the Jarvis and the Krypton?

 

we use our six years old pc as our htpc every single day, at least two hours a day (more when my wife has a day off and binges on old movies from amazon prime). when we are streaming, we almost never have any buffering issues. there was a brief period where comcast seemed to be throttling amazon prime specifically. but that has stopped completely. honestly, this cheap little gateway computer has not been turned off for more than a hour or two in the last six years. we record at least 30 hours of shows each week. sometimes we build up quite a backlog of shows to watch, but then when the shows go on break for the summer, we catch up.

i did install kodi on that pc, but i wasn't really happy with the quality of the streams in general. the stuff we record off the air is 1080p, and the streams from amazon are really good, but most of the free streams that kodi finds are garbage.

 

Last edited: Mar 3, 2017

@Herr Durr I'm still rocking the chromecast. Archaic but it gets the job done. No app integration but since I quit gaming I really only need it for music and photos.

 

@Trevor Gordon
Yeah, exodus is what I use too for movie and shows.
For PPV sporting events it depends where its streaming from. The sportsdevil add on will get you most of them. Im usually watch a BT2 stream from the uk here in the usa of a us fight. But finding an good HD stream is hit or miss somtimes. On fight night I usually just search google for UFC ** Kodi and a current list of streams will come up. Then I go down the list till I find a good quality one. The lists want you to install the addons for each stream but almost all of them are already in the sportsdevil add on so you dont have too.

 

Minix are good, because most importantly they continue to develop the firmware, and they have a good support website.

 

For me i use the n-Vida shield. The shield is one of the best streaming devices hands down. I have Cinema. Kodi, Red Box TV, and more. Try the Shield.

 

I'd bought my TV Box about 3 years ago, a MagCube 6K Ultra HD from Amazon for about $50 or so. It served me well. Watched a lot of 4K movies on it. It still works, but I haven't used it an a year because I no longer watch TV. I still have it, and my 55" TCL Roku TV, though. At this point, like my guitars, they're just decorations. I guess everything's still around just in case my living situation changes.

 

For me SFVIP Player does a great Job on Windows Devices im using an Intel Nuc connected to my TV.

 

in europe you want a protek. or two. so many channels. in the us i dont know, read up on cardsharing